U.S. patent number 6,837,737 [Application Number 10/272,387] was granted by the patent office on 2005-01-04 for bus connector.
This patent grant is currently assigned to American Standard International Inc.. Invention is credited to Terence D. Baier, Brent J. H. Helgeson.
United States Patent |
6,837,737 |
Baier , et al. |
January 4, 2005 |
Bus connector
Abstract
A system for electrically connecting electrical components. The
system comprises a first ribbon cable; a connector cap including a
track area adapted to operably engage the ribbon cable, and a
connector base having a first ribbon cable receptacle area adapted
to electrically engage the first ribbon cable. The connector cap
includes a first pair of posts spaced a first distance apart and a
second pair of posts spaced a second distance apart, the second
distance differing from the first distance. The connector base
includes a second receptacle area adapted to electrically engage a
second ribbon cable, electrical interconnection wiring electrically
interconnecting the first and second receptacles, and a receptacle
operably positioned and sized to receive the first pair of posts
and sized to interfere with the second pair of posts.
Inventors: |
Baier; Terence D. (La Crosse,
WI), Helgeson; Brent J. H. (La Crosse, WI) |
Assignee: |
American Standard International
Inc. (New York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
32069258 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/272,387 |
Filed: |
October 10, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/402;
439/404 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
12/616 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
4/24 (20060101); H01R 004/24 () |
Field of
Search: |
;439/402,404,405,417,677 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0 336 695 |
|
Oct 1989 |
|
EP |
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0 571 156 |
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Nov 1993 |
|
EP |
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WO 97/05682 |
|
Feb 1997 |
|
WO |
|
Primary Examiner: Le; Thanh-Tam
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Beres; William J. O'Driscoll;
William
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for electrically connecting electrical components, the
system comprising: a first ribbon cable; a connector cap including
a track area adapted to operably engage the first ribbon cable, a
first pair of posts spaced a first distance apart and a second pair
of posts spaced a second distance apart, the second distance
differing from the first distance; and a connector base having a
first ribbon cable receptacle area adapted to electrically engage
the first ribbon cable, a second receptacle area adapted to
electrically engage a second ribbon cable, means electrically
interconnecting the first and second receptacles, and a receptacle
operably positioned and sized to receive the first pair of posts
and sized to interfere with the second pair of posts.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the receptacle includes a
blockoff positioned to interfere with the second pair of posts such
that the connector cap can only be assembled to the connector base
in one orientation.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the connector base includes means
for affixing the base to a fixture.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the affixing means includes a
base end having a guide slot sized to receive a cable tie.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first and second ribbon
cables include electrical connecting wires of different gauges and
wherein the connector base and the connector cap respectively
include cap and base tracks having varying size portions
operatively adapted to receive the varying gauge electrical lines
of the first and second ribbon cables.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the connector base includes a
first end having a guide slot sized to receive a cable tie.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the connector base includes a
first end having a fastener aperture formed to receive a
fastener.
8. A connector for operably connecting a first and a second
communications bus, the connector comprising: a connector base
including a top side and first and second substantially identical
cap engagement areas located on the top side, each cap engagement
area including tracks adapted to receive the first or second
communications bus and contacts for each track adapted to
electrically engage a portion of said communications bus, each
contact in the first cap engagement area being in electrical
connection with a corresponding contact in the second cap
engagement area to form electrically connected pairs of contact,
the base including first and second blockoffs proximal to
respective first and second cap engagement areas; and a first bus
connector cap including tracks sized to receive and retain the
first or second communications bus and including a pair of posts
sized to interferingly engage the blockoffs if the cap is assembled
to the base in a particular orientation.
9. A connector for operably connecting a first and a second
communications bus, the connector comprising: a connector base
including first and second substantially identical cap engagement
areas, each cap engagement area including tracks adapted to receive
the first or second communications bus and contacts for each track
adapted to electrically engage a portion of said communications
bus, each contact in the first cap engagement area being in
electrical connection with a corresponding contact in the second
cap engagement area to form electrically connected pairs of
contact, the base including first and second blockoffs proximal to
respective first and second cap engagement areas; a first bus
connector cap including tracks sized to receive and retain the
first or second communications bus and including a pair of posts
sized to interferingly engage the blockoffs if the cap is assembled
to the base in a particular orientation; and wherein the first bus
connector cap includes a second pair of posts sized not to
interfere with the blockoff s when the cap is assembled to the
base.
10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the first pair of posts is
located on a first side of the connector cap and the second pair of
posts is located on a non-adjacent side of the connector cap.
11. The connector of claim 10 including a second bus connector cap
substantially identical to the first bus connector cap wherein the
first connector cap operatively engages the first cap engagement
area and the second connector cap operatively engages the second
cap engagement area.
12. The connector of claim 11, wherein the first and second
communications bus are flat ribbon cables.
13. The connector of claim 12, wherein the bus connector cap
includes an outer surface having an alignment guide and wherein the
connector base includes first and second base alignment guides on
an external surface of the base respectively associated with the
first and second cap engagement areas; and wherein the flat ribbon
cable, the cap alignment guide and the first and second base
alignment guides include a visual indicia to aide in assembly and
aligning a portion of the flat ribbon cable, a cap alignment guide,
and either a first or second base alignment guide.
14. A connector for operably connecting a first and a second
communications bus, the connector comprising: a connector base
including first and second substantially identical cap engagement
areas, each cap engagement area including tracks adapted to receive
the first or second communications bus and contacts for each track
adapted to electrically engage a portion of said communications
bus, each contact in the first cap engagement area being in
electrical connection with a corresponding contact in the second
cap engagement area to form electrically connected pairs of
contact, the base including first and second blockoffs proximal to
respective first and second cap engagement areas; a first bus
connector cap including tracks sized to receive and retain the
first or second communications bus and including a pair of posts
sized to interferingly engage the blockoffs if the cap is assembled
to the base in a particular orientation; and further including a
slot in the base formed and operating sized to receive a
fastener.
15. A connector for operably connecting a first and a second
communications bus, the connector comprising: a connector base
including first and second substantially identical cap engagement
areas, each cap engagement area including tracks adapted to receive
the first or second communications bus and contacts for each track
adapted to electrically engage a portion of said communications
bus, each contact in the first cap engagement area being in
electrical connection with a corresponding contact in the second
cap engagement area to form electrically connected pairs of
contact, the base including first and second blockoffs proximal to
respective first and second cap engagement areas; a first bus
connector cap including tracks sized to receive and retain the
first or second communications bus and including a pair of posts
sized to interferingly engage the blockoffs if the cap is assembled
to the base in a particular orientation; and wherein the connector
caps and the connector base each include means for assembling the
first connector cap to the connector base in a single orientation;
wherein the first and second cap engagement areas include first and
second sized lines and the assembling means includes first and
second retaining arms on the first connector cap wherein the first
retaining arms are sized to receive first and second sized lines
and the second retaining arms are sized to receive the first lines
but not the second lines.
16. The connector of claim 15 further including means, operably
formed in the base, for affixing the connector to a fixture.
17. The connector of claim 16, wherein the affixing means includes
a slot penetrating the base and shaped to receive a cable tie.
18. An electrical connector for connecting first and second
communications buses, each bus including at least first and second
conduits, comprising: a non-conductive housing including a top
side, a first receptacle portion and first contacts for receiving a
first bus, and a second receptacle portion and second contacts for
receiving a second bus, the first and second receptacle portions
being located on the top side, the housing further including
connections operably and electrically interconnecting the first
contacts with the second contacts; first cover portion adapted for
and operably engaging the first receptacle portion to form a first
electrical connection between the first contacts and the first bus
such that the first electrical connection is insulated from
external electrical contacts; second cover portion adapted for and
operably engaging second receptacle portion to form a second
electrical connection between the second contacts and the second
bus such that the second electrical connection is insulated from
external electrical contacts; and the housing further including at
least one aperture sized to receive a fastener.
19. The electrical connection of claim 18, wherein the housing
includes a second aperture at an opposing end of the housing from
the at least one aperture.
20. The electrical connector of claim 19, wherein the first cover
portion includes means for assembling the first cover portion to
the housing in a single orientation.
21. The electrical connector of claim 20, wherein the assembling
means includes a first pair alignment posts on the first cover
portion and spaced a first distance apart and a second pair of
posts on the first cover portion spaced a second distance
apart.
22. A bus connector comprising: a first cap having a first side and
a second side not adjacent to the first side, a first pair of
alignment arms proximal the first side projecting therefrom wherein
the first pair of arms are spaced a first distance apart, a second
pair of arms proximal the second side and projecting therefrom in a
direction corresponding to the direction that the first pair of
arms project wherein the second pair of arms are spaced apart a
second distance differing from the first distance; a base adapted
to receive at least the first cap in operable engagement wherein
the base includes a first cap reception area having a first portion
adapted to receive the first pair of arms but not to receive the
second pair of arms and having a second portion adapted to receive
the second pair of arms.
23. The bus connector of claim 22, further including a second cap
having a first side and a second side not adjacent to the first
side, a first pair of alignment arms proximal the first side
projecting therefrom wherein the first pair of arms are spaced a
first distance apart, a second pair of arms proximal the second
side and projecting therefrom in a direction corresponding to the
direction that the first pair of arms project wherein the second
pair of arms are spaced apart a second distance differing from the
first distance; and wherein the base includes a second cap
reception area having third portion adapted to receive the first
pair of arms from either the first or second cap but not to receive
the second pair of arms from the first or second cap; and having a
fourth portion adapted to receive the second pair of arms of the
first or second cap.
24. The bus connector of claim 23 the connector base having a
longitudinal orientation extending between a first end and a second
end, the first end having a guide completely penetrated by a first
slot sized to receive a fastener such as a cable tie.
25. The bus connector of claim 24, wherein the second end includes
a second guide penetrated by a second slot adapted to receive a
fastener such as a cable tie.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to improvements in a bus
connector which includes a pair of bus connector caps secured to a
bus connector base so that each cap secures a bus cable in operable
connection with the connector base. For purposes of this
application, the words "bus", "cable" and "bus cable" are intended
to encompass both a physical communications medium and the
transmissions over that medium, unless it is otherwise apparent
from the context.
Bus connectors like those shown in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No.
6,398,581 to Baier et al. facilitate the interconnection of buses
that have been found to have certain installation problems. These
problems include the fact that even though the cap and base have a
guide post arrangement to ensure the correct orientation of the cap
relative to the base, incorrect installations still occur.
Additionally, there is a need to sometimes secure the assembled
connector to a fixture such as a post or bar to a set of cables or
the like.
It is desirable that the base connectors and caps can be only
assembled in one orientation so that the corresponding lines of a
pair of buses being connected by the connector will be connected,
as opposed to the connection of opposed lines if one of the buses
were somehow reversed. It is also desirable to secure the assembled
connector to a fixture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object, feature and advantage of the present invention to
solve the problem with prior electrical connectors.
It is an object, feature and advantage of the present invention to
provide a bus connector having a cap which can be placed in
non-slideable relation with a communications bus.
It is a further object, feature and advantage of the present
invention that the communications bus be a flat ribbon cable.
It is an object, feature and advantage of the present invention to
provide an alignment guide to assist an assembler in correctly
interconnecting a pair of buses with a bus connector device.
It is an object, feature and advantage of the present invention to
provide a connector cap or caps and a connector base which can only
be assembled in one orientation.
It is an object, feature and advantage of the present invention to
provide a bus connector which can be easily secured to a
fixture.
The present invention provides a system for electrically connecting
electrical components. The system comprises a first ribbon cable; a
connector cap including a track area adapted to operably engage the
ribbon cable and a connector base having a first ribbon cable
receptacle area adapted to electrically engage the first ribbon
cable. The cap includes a first pair of posts spaced a first
distance apart and a second pair of posts spaced a second distance
apart. The second distance differs from the first distance. The
base includes a second receptacle area adapted to electrically
engage a second ribbon cable, electrical interconnection wiring
electrically interconnecting the first and second receptacles, and
a receptacle operably positioned and sized to receive the first
pair of posts and sized to interfere with the second pair of
posts.
The present invention also provides a connector for operably
connecting a first and a second communications bus. The connector
comprises a connector base including first and second substantially
identical cap engagement areas. Each cap engagement area including
tracks adapted to receive the first or second communications bus
and contacts for each track adapted to electrically engage a
portion of said communications bus. Each contact in a cap
engagement area is in electrical connection with a corresponding
contact in the other cap engagement area to form electrically
connected pairs of contact. The base includes first and second
blockoffs proximal to respective first and second cap engagement
areas. The connector also comprises a first bus connector cap
including tracks sized to receive and retain the first or second
communications bus and including a pair of posts sized to
interferingly engage the blockoffs if the cap is assembled to the
base in a particular orientation. The connector may also include a
slot penetrating the base and shaped to receive a cable tie.
The present invention further provides an electrical connector for
connecting first and second communications buses. Each bus includes
at least first and second conduits. The connector comprises a
non-conductive housing including a first receptacle portion and
first contacts for receiving a first bus and a second receptacle
portion and second contacts for receiving a second bus. The housing
further includes electrical connections operably and electrically
interconnecting the first contacts with the second contacts. The
connector also comprises a first cover portion adapted for and
operably engaging the first receptacle portion to form a first
electrical connection between the first contacts and the first bus
such that the first electrical connection is insulated from
external electrical contacts; and second cover portion adapted for
and operably engaging second receptacle portion to form a second
electrical connection between the second contacts and the second
bus such that the second electrical connection is insulated from
external electrical contacts. The housing further includes at least
one aperture sized to receive a fastener.
The present invention additionally provides a bus connector. The
connector comprises a first cap having a first side and a second
side not adjacent to the first side and a base adapted to receive
at least the first cap in operable engagement. The cap includes a
first pair of alignment arms proximal the first side projecting
therefrom wherein the first pair of arms are spaced a first
distance apart. The cap includes a second pair of arms proximal the
second side and projecting therefrom in a direction corresponding
to the direction that the first pair of arms project wherein the
second pair of arms are spaced apart a second distance differing
from the first distance. The base includes a first cap reception
area having a first portion adapted to receive the first pair of
arms but not to receive the second pair of arms and having a second
portion adapted to receive the second pair of arms.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a perspective top side view of a bus connector cap in
accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective, underside of the connector cap of FIG.
1.
FIG. 3 is an end view of the bus connector cap taken along lines
3--3 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the connector base of the present
invention taken from a first upper orientation.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the connector base of FIG. 3 taken
from a second lower orientation.
FIG. 6 shows the cap and bus of the present invention in
pre-assembly relation with the connector base.
FIG. 7 is a drawing of the assembled bus connector of the present
invention in perspective with a pair of connector caps securing a
pair of ribbon buses to a connector base.
FIG. 8 shows the assembled connector of FIG. 7 along lines
8--8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an improvement to commonly assigned U.S.
Pat. No. 6,398,581 to Baier et al., which is hereby incorporated by
reference.
Referring to all the figures of the drawing, the present invention
is directed to a bus connector 10 which includes a pair of bus
connector caps 12 and a connector base 14. The bus connector caps
12 are secured to bus connector base 14 to form the bus connector
10 such that each cap 12 secures a bus 16 in operable connection
with the base 14 and the connector base 14 electrically connects a
pair of busses 16.
Now referring specifically to FIGS. 1-3, each cap includes a bus
alignment guide 18 which is preferably color coded to enable an
assembler to correctly align the bus 16 with the bus connector cap
12 by aligning a particular color on the bus 16 with the bus
alignment guide 18. The bus connector cap 12 preferably includes
molded tracks 20 extending the length of the bus connector cap 12
parallel to the direction of the guide 18 and sized to receive and
retain an appropriate bus 16. Preferably, the tracks include a
sealant 22 overlaying the tracks 20 on the cap 12 in a shape
preformed to the bus 16 so as to provide a relatively impermeable
seal about the bus 16 when the bus connector 10 is fully
assembled.
The bus connector cap 12 also includes a pair of retaining arms 26
on a first side 28, and a second pair of retaining arms 30 on a
second opposed side 32. Preferably, the bus 16 has different sized
wiring, and the retaining arms 26, 30 are sized so that the bus 16
can only be placed in the tracks 20 in the correct orientation.
Specifically, the retaining arms 26a, 30a proximal the bus
alignment guide 18 are sized to receive a larger line whereas the
retaining arms 26b, 30b are sized to receive a smaller line and not
to receive the larger line.
The guide 18 is on a top side 34 of the bus connector cap 12, while
the tracks 20 are on a bottom side 36 of the bus connector cap 12.
The bus connector cap 12 includes a guide side 40 nearest the guide
18 and an opposed offside side 42 farthest from the guide 18 where
both the guide side 40 and the offside side 42 are parallel to the
guide 18.
The bus connector cap 12 includes four alignment posts 44, 46, 48,
50 where the alignment posts 44, 46 form a first pair on the guide
side 40 and where the alignment posts 48, 50 form a second pair on
the offset side 42. On the guide side 40, the posts 44, 46 are
spaced apart a first distance 52. On the offset side 42, the
alignment posts 48, 50 are spaced apart a second distance 54. To
help ensure that the bus connector cap 12 can only be aligned to
and assembled with the connector base 14 in one orientation, the
distance 52 is different from the distance 54. This ensures that
either the first pair of alignment posts 44, 46 or the second pair
of alignment posts 48, 50 will have an interference with a part of
the connector base 14 if the bus connector cap 12 is incorrectly
oriented. In the preferred embodiment the first distance 52 has the
dimension 0.443 inches, and the second distance 54 has a smaller
dimension 0.381 inches.
Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 8, each base 14 preferably includes
a first cap engagement area 60 and a second cap engagement area 62
where the first and second cap engagement areas 60, 62 are
substantially identical and where the cap engagement areas 60, 62
are located on a top side 110 of the base 14. Each cap engagement
area 60, 62 includes molded tracks 64 adapted to receive a bus
connector 16 and are preferably overlain with a sealant 66 in a
shape performed to the bus 16 so as to seal around the bus
connector 16 in a weatherproof manner. Each track 64 includes a
contact 70 having one or more edges 72 adapted for engaging a
particular electrical connecting line 80 in the bus connector 16,
cutting through the insulating cover and making electrical
connection between the contact and the actual electrical conductive
line 80. In the preferred embodiment, the bus connector 16 includes
four electrical connector lines 82, 84, 86 and 88 held in flat
relationship by a plastic ribbon 90 to form a plastic ribbon cable
92.
Also referencing FIG. 8, each cap engagement area 60, 62 includes a
contact 94 adapted to engage the line 88, a contact 96 adapted to
engage the line 86, a contact 98 adapted to engage the line 84, and
a contact 100 adapted to engage the line 82. Within and insulated
by the base 14 itself, the contact 100 of cap engagement area 60 is
electrically connected by a conductor 112 to the contact 100 of cap
engagement area 62. Similarly, contacts 98, 96 and 94 of cap
engagement area 60 are respectively electrically connected within
the base 14 to the contacts 98, 96 and 94 of the cap engagement
area 62 by conductors 114, 116, 118.
The base 14 includes cap alignment guides 140 aligned with the
track 64 holding the contacts 94 and the line 88. The line 88 is
sized to engage the restraining arms 26a and 30b but to be too
large to engage the restraining arms 26h, 30b. Both a first side
142 of the base 14 and a second side 144 of the base 14 preferably
include the guides 140. The base 14 also includes projections 150
for engaging mating indentations 152 on the bus connector caps
12.
Preferably, each longitudinal end 120 of the connector base 14
includes a molded guide support 122 having a guide slot 124
completely penetrating the guide support 122, although a single
guide slot 124 at one longitudinal end 120 will suffice for
purposes of this invention. The guide slot 124 is sized and formed
to accept a conventional cable tie 126. This allows the lead end
128 of the cable tie 126 to be fed through at least one and
preferably both guide slots 124 and conventionally engaged with the
female end 130 of the cable tie 126 about a fixture 131 such as a
cable, post, pipe or anything else to which a cable tie could be
attached to restrain the movement of the assembled bus connector
10. Exemplary cable ties are sold by such companies as General
Wiring Components Ltd., Grainger, and Panduit under various
trademarks and model identifiers.
In the preferred embodiment, the connector base 14 includes molded
blockoffs 136 dimensional and positioned proximal to a side 133 or
channel 135 nearest to and parallel to the guide 140 so as to
interfere with the alignment posts 48, 50 but not to interfere with
the alignment posts 44,46 thereby ensuring that but connector caps
12 can only be assembled to the bus connector base 14 in one
orientation. Of course, the molded blockoffs could be repositioned
to an opposing side of the cap retention areas 60, 62 to interfere
with the posts 44, 46 and not to interfere with the posts 48,
50.
To assemble the bus connector 10, a bus connector cap 12 is aligned
with and placed on a bus 16 such that the electrical lines 80 are
in the tracks 20. In the preferred embodiment, the electrical lines
82, 84 are of a different gauge than the lines 86, 88 and there are
two sizes of tracks 170, 172 to help ensure that the bus 16 and the
bus connector cap 12 are aligned in a single alignment.
Additionally, the bus alignment guide 18 is aligned with the
electrical line 88 through the use of color coding the line 88 and
the guide 18. The retainers 26, 30 and the sealant 22 engage the
flat ribbon cable 92 in an interfering manner and in a single
orientation so as to prevent the sliding of the bus connector cap
12 with relation to the cable 16 in a frictional manner.
As is shown in FIG. 6, the bus 16 and the bus connector cap 12 are
then moved over the desired cap engagement area 60, 62, the first
pair of posts 44, 46 is aligned with the blockoffs 136 on the side
133 or the channel 135, the second pair of posts 48,50 aligned with
the opposing 174 sides, the bus alignment guide 18 is aligned with
a cap alignment guide 140, and the bus retainer cap 12 is pressed
into engagement with a cap engagement area 62 such that the
projections 150 retain and operably engage the receptacles 152. The
same procedure is repeated with a second receptacle connector cap
12 and a second bus 16 for the cap engagement area 60 to complete
the bus connector 10. This completed bus connector 10 is shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8. Correct assembly is assured by aligning the guides
18 and the guides 140 of the respective bus connector cap 12, the
bus 16, and the bus connector base 14 and by aligning the pairs of
posts 44, 46 and 48, 50 with the respective sides 174, ends 133 or
channels 135, and blockoffs 136.
In the preferred embodiment the electrical line 88 provides power,
the line 86 is also part of the power circuit acting as a ground or
common line, while the lines 84 and 82 provide a conventional two
line RS-485 communications protocol.
What has been shown is a bus connector for connecting two ribbon
cable buses operably and electrically using a pair of connector
caps and a connector base. It will be apparent to a person of
ordinary skill in the art that many changes and modifications could
be made. The nature of the bus itself could be varied to a variety
of conventional media including increasing or decreasing the number
of electrical connecting lines in the ribbon bus, changing from a
ribbon bus to other forms of electrical connecting buses or other
conventional modifications. Additionally, the alignment posts can
be modified to other shapes and arrangements, and the guide slot
can be modified to receive other conventional fasteners such as
radiator clamps, bolts, screws, rivets or the like. Moreover,
either or both the alignment post pairs could be moved to another
side of the cap so that the pairs of posts were on adjacent sides,
or so that the pairs of posts are on opposing sides but rotated
90.degree..
What is desired to be secured for Letter Patent of the United
States is set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *